“Wellbeing” Concerns Continue To Grow For Consumers and Employees

A study of over 2,000 employees and their dependents found that well-being is continuing to have a big impact. All well-being dimensions are viewed by employees as important: financial, physical, emotional and social.

The findings suggest that consumers are increasingly looking at well-being in a holistic way. In light of this, one of the recommendations in the survey’s key takeaways was for employers to build workplaces that can support well-being in its entirety.

It’s notable that, according to the study, some of the more traditional elements of physical wellness experienced a decline in importance over the past year. Diet, for example, decreased in importance by 7%, from 65% to 58%. Exercise dropped from 59% to 53%.

The survey also took a deeper dive into the area of mental health, finding that the issue continues to reside “in the shadows.” Not surprisingly, it found that stress continues to be on the rise, with the percentage of respondents reporting high stress levels at 54%, up 5% over the past year. Of those reporting high stress, 74% said they were experiencing more and more obstacles that stood in the way of receiving treatments.

Consumers, the study said, would like to see more one-on-one assistance from their employers. They want healthcare and well-being to be a multichannel experience, one that includes email, mobile and social. Messages and information need to be delivered when they’re needed, not when it’s convenient for the employer.

To learn more about wellbeing and what it can mean for consumers, employees and employers, visit SelfCare for HealthCare™.